Cabinet system



Jan. 9, 1968 v R. w. FaNK ETAL 3,362,768

CABINET SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l l Z /Mkflodvl/ ATTORNEYS R. w. FINKv ETAL CABINET SYSTEM Jan. 9, 1968 Filed July 6. 1965 5 sheets-sheet s `Iam. 9, 1968 R.-w. FINK a1-Al.r I -4 3,362,768

CABINET SYSTEM FiledJuly 6, 1965 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 9, 1968 R, wl FlNK ETAL I 3,362,768

cABNET SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,362,768 CABINET SYSTEM Robert W. Finir, Benton Harbor, and Albert L. Lundgren, Niles, Mich., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 472,757 16 Claims. (Cl. 312-245) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting wall or ceiling member `that includes two or more elongated strips adapted to be attached to the supporting member in laterally spaced relationship and `a plurality of side frame members attachable -to the strips rather than the Wall or ceiling member so that the cabinet will be securely and evenly mounted regardless of irregularities in the wall or ceiling member -to which the strips are attached.

This invention relates to a cabinet system particularly of the prefabricated knock-down type adapted to be suspended from a supporting wall `or ceiling member as contrasted to resting on Ia base member such as a floor.

The cabinet system of this inven-tion may be characterized as comprising a plurality of furring strips adapted to support a plurality of generally rectangular frame members, which in turn -are adapted to provide support for the remaining elements of a complete cabinet system. The fur-ring strips are mounted on a supporting member in parallel spaced relationship with respect to each other and provide, in effect, a datum plane mounting member for the remainder of the cabinet system.

In this regard, the furring strips are adapted to be mounted on nonstandard supporting members such as wall studs spaced at irregular intervals or Walls which are not square or are out of level. Under such nonstandard supporting member conditions the furring strips of this invention provide a convenient means for establishing a preleveled and presquared datam plane mounting member for the cabinet frame.

It will be appreciated that the furring strips because of -their small size and light weight may be easily mounted on the supporting member by utilizing available secure sites and by taking the preliminary precaution of squaring and leveling the furring strips vwith respect to each other. Once the furring strips are securely attached to the supporting member the frame may be mounted on the furring strips in a standard pattern and in level and square relationship with each other. The frames lare specilically adapted to receive remaining elements of a complete cabinet system, such as shelving, tops and bottoms, end panels, drawers and doors. The doors may be provided with adjustable hinges in order to compensate for installation errors and manufacturing tolerances which might result in slight misalignment of frame members. Sliding doors also may be mounted on the frames.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved prefab-ricated, knock-down cabinet system having `standard dimensions and adapted -to be mounted on a supporting member of nonstandard dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet system which when installed will be level and square regardless of the level or square of its supporting member.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments thereof as disclosed in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

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FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a partially assembled cabine-t system embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of the system of FIGURE 1 in their approximate relative locations.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the installation of a side frame member of the cabinet systern on a furring strip.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 are bottom, front, top and rear elevations, respectively, of 'the rectangular side frame member illustrated in side elevation in lFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the furring strip shown in end elevationalview in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view of the furring strip of FIGURE 8 during attachment to a supporting member and showing in sectional elevation a fastener means within -the channel shaped furring strip.

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a hinge connecting a door to a side frame member.

lFIGURE 1l is a front elevational view of the hinge struc-ture of FIGURE l0.

FIGURE lla is a side elevational view of the righthand side of FIGURE 1l.

FIGURE l2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 13 is a view `similar to FIGURE l but illustrating a second embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGURE 14 is an exploded perspective View of the parts of the embodiment of FIGURE 13 shown in their approximate relative locations.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-12 the cabinet systern comprises a plurality of elongated strips 20 commonly lknown as furring strips that are attachable as by a plurality of screws 21 to a supporting member such as a wall stud 22. During installation these strips 20 are arranged substantially Ihorizontally to the supporting member in laterally spaced relationship. Thus, on a wall the strips 2li would generally be parallel and vertically spaced apart while if the cabinet system Were suspended from ceiling joists the strips would be parallel and substantially in the plane of the ceiling.

-Each of the furring strips 20 as is illustrated most clearly in FIGURES 8 and 9 is of generally channel or C-shape having a at rear `side 2S adapted to be placed against the supporting member 22 as shown in FIGURES 3 and an open front Z4 defined by opposite flanges 25, 26 extending toward each other. The rear 23 of the strip Ztl is Iprovided with spaced elongated slo-ts 27 for receiving the fastening screws 21. The upper and lower edges of each strip 2t) are provided with an inwardly extending and outwardly facing grooves 28 and 29, respectively. The grooves 12S and 29 perform a strengthening function as well as aiding assembly of the cabinet system as hereinafter explained.

The cabinet system also includes a plurality of Side frame members 30 which as shown are generally rectangular and comprise bottom 31, front 32, top 33 and rear 34 sides. Each of the sides 31-34 is of similar cross Section as shown at the top of FIGURE 7. Thus, each is of generally right angled or L-shaped icross section having the edge 35 essentially flat and folded over at the inner surface as indicated at 36 for strengthening the frame member and for presenting a smooth exposed edge. The other parts 37 of the angle are approximately coplanar except for the provision of an outwardly opening strengthening groove 38. Referring ahead at this point to FIGURES 10 and 12, it will be noted that the strengthening groove 38 cooperates with an end panel 74 to deiine a space wherein the tip of a screw 69 and a tab of a shelf mounting clip 50 are received and concealed from the outside of the cabinet system.

With this construction there is provided a dat rear face 39 on the frame member 36 with this rear part having an outwardly and downwardly angled tab 46 struck from this rear face 39. The tab 4t) is receivable in groove 28 of strip 26 to preposition the frame during assembly. The rear face 39 also contains a vertically elongated screw opening all near the top beneath the tab di) and a second similar screw opening 42 adjacent the bottom of the rear face 39.

The bottom 31 and the top 33 contain spaced openings 43 and 44 for receiving fastening screws for attaching bottom 45 and top 46 panels to the frame members.

The front side 32 of the frame member 36 contains vertically elongated slots 47 and d8 adjacent the top and bottom, respectively, thereof for attaching hinges in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The front 32 and rear 34 sides at the strengthening grooves 38 contain spaced horizontally aligned openings 49 for receiving shelf clips 5t). As is customary in this art these shelf clips may be arranged in pairs in opposite frame members 3f) to support shelves 51 at desired locations.

The cabinet system also includes front doors 52 and 53 having handles 54 and 55 fastened on the doors in the usual manner. The doors are adapted to be connected to the side frame members by top 56 and bottom S7 hinges.

In order to attach the hat rear face 39 of the rear side 34 of each frame member 3@ to furring strips 20, there are provided slidable fastener members 53 (FIGURE 9) receivable Within a channel formed by the lianges 25 and 26 and grooves 23 and 29. These fastener members 58 each have a center hole 59 adapted to be engaged by a screw 60 (FIGURE 2) extending through a screw opening 41 or 42 in the ilat face 39. Because of its rectangular configuration the fastener member S8 is precluded from all but sliding movement in the channel. It is also spaced from the rear side 23 of the strip 20 which facilitates starting the screws 6i) during assembly of the cabinet system, because there is no interference with the rear side 23 of strip 26 or with the heads of screws 21.

The hinge structure is illustrated most clearly in FIG- URES l and ll which show plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a top hinge 56 and associated parts of a door 52 and frame member Sti. Although the hinge 56 is illustrated in FIGURES l0 and ll, it is exactly the same as the opposite hinge 57 except one is a mirror image of the other.

The hinge 56 includes a horizontal part 61 adapted to be adjustably attached to the door 52 by screws 62 and 63 extending through oversized openings 62a and 63a in the door. The screws 62 and 63 engage a sheet metal nut 61a within a slot 52a in door 52 to clamp the door between part 61 and nut 6in. In FIGURE l1 the door 52 is merely indicated in broken lines for clarity of illustration. The horizontal part 61 is provided with a forwardly extending right angle flange 64 that is contiguous to and beneath a similar right angle flange 65. These flanges are hingedly connected by a hinge pin 66 at the forward extended edges thereof as shown in FIGURE 10.

The flange 65 overlying the flange 64 is a right angled extension of a vertical metal strap 67 which lies along the front of the frame member 36. This strap 67 has a rearwardly extending ear 68 in the form of a flat flange which extends through the upper opening 47 in the side 32. This flange ear 68 is adjustably attached to the groove part 38 of the frame member 30 by means of a screw 69 extending through a hinge slot 70 (FIGURE 3) in the front 32 of the frame member to engage a sliding U-shaped nut '76. The frame member contains a similar opening 71 adjacent the bottom thereof for mounting the bottom hinge 57. Adjacent and inwardly of the openings 70 and 71 are similar openings '72 and '73 for mounting side panels 74 by means of screws or the like. If desired, the side panels may be attached to the frames by means of adhesives to eliminate an exposed screw.

In assembling the parts of the cabinet system of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-12, the furring strips 20 are fastened in position on the supporting wall stud 22 by means of the screws 21. The side frame members 36 are positioned as desired along the strips 2d by placing the tabs 4t) in the top groove 28 of strip 26 which serves to preposition the frame for attachment to the strip, as well as holding the frame so that an installer has both hands free to start the screws 6).

The frame members 3i) are then locked in position on the strips 2t) by the screws 69 extending through the openings 41 and 42 to threadably engage the holes 59 in the fastener members 5S. These fastener members are slidable longitudinally in the grooves before tightening the screws 60 in order to position the frame members 3G at desired positions relative to each other and to the strips 20 and thus to the supporting member 22.

After the frame members 39 are in position a rear panel 95 and the bottom 45 and top 46 panels are attached by screws similar to screws 69 extending through openings 43 and 44 in the frame member.

The hinges 56 and 57 are then attached to doors 52 and 53 and to the frame members as previously described. Then the shelf clips 50 are placed in desired positions in the holes 49 and the shelves 51 are moved in position thereon.

The side panels 74 and 75 are on the outside of the frame members 3G and the bottom and top panels 45 and 46 are on the inside of the frame members.

In order to provide a secure mounting, the furring strips 20 are attached as by the screws 21 to wall studs or ceiling joists. Because of the provision of the elongated slots 27 in the strips 20 the screws may be attached to the wall studs or ceiling joists even where they are of nonstandard spacing.

Because the strips 29 are first attached to the studs or joists and the frame members 30 which support the rest of the cabinet structure are then attached to the strips, the spacing of the frame members 30 does not depend on the spacing of these wall studs or joists. The frame members 30 may be spaced as desired by sliding the fastener members 53 to desired locations in the furring strips 2t).

The bottom panel 45 and top panel 46 which extend between the spaced frame members 3d not only serve to complete the cabinet but also operate as rigid connector means to give lateral stability to the cabinet system.

The embodiment of FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrates a cabinet system in which provision is made for slidable drawers. Here the cabinet 78 is located a short distance above the fioor 79 but the cabinet is still suspended from the wall studs 80. In this embodiment the top panel takes the form of a countertop 81. The countertop may span several frame members and be attached to each to irnpart lateral stability to the entire cabinet system.

The cabinet 78 also includes a pair of slidable drawers S2 and 83 having front panels 84 and S5 each provided with a handle 86 of which only one is illustrated. These drawers 82 and S3 are adapted to slide on a support 87 that includes front and back parallel rails 88 and 89 attachable to the parallel frame members 30 at front and rear, as shown in FIGURE 13. The front rail 88 includes spaced guides 90 for guiding the movement of the drawers 82 and 83 in straight paths by engagement of bottom flanges 91 on the bottom of the drawers with these guides.

The doors 92 are somewhat shorter than the doors 52 and 53 because of the provision of the upper drawers S2 and 83. These doors are provided with handles 54 and 55 in the same manner as in the previous embodiment and with the top and bottom hinges S6 and 57. The cabinet of this embodiment is also provided with side,

panels 93 (of which only one is shown) similar to the side panels in the first embodiment.

A ller or toe board 94 may be cut to size after installation of this embodiment of the invention. The toe board does not provide support for the cabinets, but merely gives a more finished appearance.

As can be seen from the above description of the invention and the two embodiments, the cabinet can be installed on many supporting members regardless of the spacing of secure mounting sites or whether the supporting member is level or the floor beneath the cabinet is level. This is true because the furring strips are first attached to the supporting member by the fastening means such as the screws 21 and these screws can be located at necessary secure points in wide ranges because of the provision of the elongated screw slots 27 in the furring strip.

As the grooves 28 and 29 extend the full length of the strip the frame members 30 can be moved along the strip to the desired location by engagement of the frame member tab 40 in the top groove. The fastener members 58 which are engaged by the screws 60 extending through the top openings 41 in the frames can also be moved within the channels of the strips to the desired location opposite the frame members because the channel in which it slides likewise runs the full length of the strip.

The bottom and top panels 45 and 46 are preferably positioned on the inside of the frame members 30. These also give lateral stability to the cabinet so that additional stabilizing beams or strips are not required. After the panels are fastened in place so as to provide this lateral stability the sides of the cabinet, shelves, doors and drawers and drawer slides where used are installed.

Having described our invention'as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship for establishing a datum plane; a plurality of side frame members adapted to be attached to said elongate strips at desired locations alsong said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips and supporting member; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and wall members spanning said frame members and attached thereto to define wallsof said cabinet and to impart lateral stability to said cabinet system.

2. A cabinet system adapted to be Suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship; a plurality of side frame members, each frame member being of angular cross section and having a `flat side adapted t-o be arranged against said strips; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet.

3. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship; a plurality of side frame members, each frame member being of angular cross section and having a flat side adapted to be arranged against said strips and a side angularly arranged with respect -to said flat side and having a longitudinal strengthening groove therein; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet.

4. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship, each said strip being of channel. shaped cross section having an open front facing away from said supporting member; a plurality of side frame members each having means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said frame member at desired locations along said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips and supporting member; fastener means positionable within said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet.

5. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship; a plurality of side frame members each having tab means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said frame member at desired locations along said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips and supporting member; fastener means positionable with said frame member along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet.

6. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: `a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship, a portion of each said strip being of channel shaped cross section having an open front `facing away from said supporting member; a plurality of side frame members each having means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said frame member at desired locations along said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips and supporting member; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips, each said fastener means including a fastener member positioned in said channel and movable within the channel during said positioning of the frame members along said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet.

7. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship, each said strip being of channel shaped cross section having a back part adapted to be arranged against said supporting member and an open front part facing away from said supporting member; a plurality of side frame members each having tab means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said -frarne member at desired locations along said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips 4and supporting member; fastener means slidable in said channel and positionable with said frame member along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions with respect to said strips; and wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and dene walls of said cabinet.

8. The cabinet system of claim 7 wherein each said strip is provided with vertically spaced anges on opposite edges thereof each with an outwardly opening groove whereby the topmost flange groove is in position for receiving said tab means and positioning said frame members.

9. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship; a plurality of side frame members each having means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said frame member at desired 'locations along said strip, said frame member extending away from said strips and supporting member at substantially right angles to said strips and said supporting member; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; and Wall members attachable to said frame members to extend betweeen said frame members and define walls of said cabinet, said frame members having at least some corresponding sides in common planes.

10. The cabinet system of claim 9 wherein said frame members are provided with a plurality of aligned spaced openings for receiving shelf supports.

11. The cabinet system of claim 9 wherein corresponding top, bottom and front sides of said frame members are in respective common planes. A

12. A cabinet system adapted to be suspended from a supporting member, comprising: a plurality of elongate strips adapted to Ibe attached substantially horizontally to said supporting member in laterally spaced relationship; a plurality of side frame members each having means thereon for engaging an elongate strip to position said frame member at desired locations along said strip, said frame members extending away from said strips and supporting member; fastener means positionable with said frame members along said strips for attaching said frame members to said strips in desired relative positions along said strips; wall members attachable to said frame members to extend between said frame members and define walls of said cabinet, at least one of said wall members being movable; and hinge means attaching said movable wall member to a side frame member to provide a door.

13. A cabinet system comprising: a plurality of elongate, C-shaped metal furring strips adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to a supporting member in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other; a plurality of rectangular metal frame members; substantially L- shaped in cross section and having a tab formed thereon for engaging one of said C-shaped metal furn'ng strips to position said rectangular metal frame members with at least one side of each trame member in a common horizontal plane; fastener means for connecting said rectangular metal frame members to said C-shaped metal furring strips, said fastener means being adapted to slide horizontally in said C-shaped metal furring strip for adjusting the relative positions of said rectangular metal frame members; closure means for said cabinet system; and hinge means for mounting said closure means on at least one of said rectangular metal frame members.

14. A cabinet system comprising: a plurality of elongate C-shaped metal furring strips adapted to be attached horizontally to a supporting member in parallel spaced relation to each other; la plurality of spaced rectangular metal frame members L-shaped in cross section and having a tab formed thereon for engaging one of said C- shaped metal furring strips to position said rectangular metal trame members with at least one side of each frame member in a common horizontal plane; fastener means for connecting said rectangular metal frame members to said C-shaped metal furring strips, said fastener means being adapted to slide horizontally in said C- shaped metal furring strip for adjusting the relative positions of said rectangular metal frame members; and rigid connector means connected between successive spaced rectangular metal frame members for effecting lateral stability of said cabinet system.

15. Cabinet mounting apparatus comprising: an elongate turring strip having a generally C-shaped cross section defined by a base side that is adapted to be attached to a supporting member, and a pair of symmetrically grooved legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the extremities of said base side and thus from said supporting member, said legs having distal flanges extending toward but spaced from each other defining an opening between said anges extending substantially the entire length of said furring strip; and a slidable fastener member receivable within said furring strip for ready positioning at a desired location along said furring strip.

16. The cabinet mounting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said distal flanges cooperate with said grooved legs to provide means for maintaining said fastener member in spaced relationship with respect to said base side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,290,035 7/1942 Conwell 3 l2-109 X 2,520,506 8/1950 Mankki 312--245 X 2,537,050 l/ll Gluck 312-245 X 2,620,252 12/1952 RestiVo 312-257 2,708,147 5/1955 Duggan et al 312-111 2,999,599 9/1961 Ientzen B12- 245 X 3,025,122 3/1962 Millman S12-245 3,178,244 4/1965 Reiss et al. S12-245 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

